You know what I love about SeptembeR, OctobeR, NovembeR and DecembeR?It's oyster season! During these months, oysters are at their peak. For the next few weeks, I'll be sampling the most memorable and tasty oyster dishes in Houston.

Traditional deviled eggs are all too often relegated to church picnics and backyard barbecues, a damn shame considering that with the right balance of yolk and mayonnaise and a healthy sprinkle of paprika, they're a wonderfully simple hors d'oeuvre that complements any cocktail hour.

With the addition of a crispy chicken-fried oyster and a crispy bacon strip, the deviled egg transcends the appetizer category to become a super snack (a technical term for you less familiar with culinary parlance). The combination of three different animal proteins not only makes this dish pleasantly satiating but also keeps you guessing with its diverse flavors and textures.

The fried oyster by itself is a terrific blend of briny slipperiness, crumbly crunch and rich batter; with the backdrop of a creamy yolk, firm egg white and salty pork, you're overwhelmed with fats and oils in all their luxurious forms. Hardly light picnic fare, thank God.